West Virginia homeschoolers are required by law to provide an academic assessment of their child(ren) to their school board office by June 30th of each year. All children that are of mandatory school age (age six by September 1st of that school year to age 16) must be assessed. You have the following options:
      Standardized testing
      Compile a portfolio of your child's work
      Provide an alternative evaluation, approved in advance

Standardized tests used for homeschooling assessments must be nationally normed and provide statistical results. Under WV law, your child's mean of the test results in the required subject areas (reading, language, mathematics, science and social studies) must be above the 50th percentile. If it is not, you have two years to remediate. (Keep in mind you may opt for the portfolio evaluation if your child has problems with testing.) Some testing options:

Testing in the public schools: Homeschoolers have the option of obtaining annual assessment through the county school testing program at no cost. Testing will be conducted in the child's local school of attendance. Contact your board of education office to register.

Testing privately:You may arrange private testing. You may not test your own child and use results for your annual academic assessment.

Testing with a homeschooling group through an organization such as the WV Home Educators Association (WVHEA): The WVHEA organizes testing centers throughout West Virginia each spring. The Monongalia Homeschoolers, under the auspices of WVHEA, conducts testing in Morgantown in late March or early April. Deirdre Maxwell (deirdremaxwell@earthlink.net), is the person to contact in order to register with our group. The test covers reading, language arts, math, science and social studies. The tests are administered by homeschooling parents who have participated in a test administration workshop within the past five years. Homeschoolers cannot test their own children.

Test Preparation: Practice tests can help prepare children for the standarized testing experience by giving them an idea of what to expect. American School Publishers (1-800-843-8855) has a practice-test series called Scoring High. The tests cost about $6.00 each and teachers' guides are about $10.00 each. There are other test preparation books widely available in bookstores. It is important for students to practice test taking skills, so be sure to use some practice materials before testing.

Choosing Test Level: You are able to determine which test level you need for your child. Usually the test closest to the mid-grade level at which your child is working is the one you need.